Navy junior Darien Sears has been named the 2012 USTA / Maryland Collegiate Sportsmanship Award recipient, the organization announced recently.

Dec. 13, 2012

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy junior Darien Sears (Silver Spring, Md.) has been named the 2012 USTA / Maryland Collegiate Sportsmanship Award recipient, the organization announced recently. Sears was named the recipient after a nomination process and was then selected from a handful of nominees.

The award is based on a player's character and reputation as a competitor and given annually to the player that best exemplifies the top qualities of sportsmanship.

"Darien has been unflappable on the court, regardless of the situation. She handles herself in an exemplery manner while representing the Naval Academy, the Navy women's tennis team and herself. She is the epitome of what an athlete should be," said Navy women's tennis head coach Keith Puryear. "She has great perspective about the game and respect towards her opponent. Her class is very evident to all that see her compete. She plays the game the way that it should be played, she fights for every point, plays hard until the last shot is hit and then gives her opponent credit win or lose."

Sears played No. 1 singles last year as a sophomore, earning first-team all-Patriot League accolades with a 16-16 overall record and a 12-8 dual-meet record. This past fall, Sears posted a 4-6 mark and she currently ranks fourth on the Navy career singles wins list (44) and sixth on the doubles list (30).

Sears and her teammates will open the spring season on Jan. 19 against Saint Francis (Pa.) at the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis.